Tom Wildsmith News Today

Senator John Kerry's health care plan would expand coverage butwould fall short in transforming health insurance markets andmaking patients the key decision makers in the system. In effect,it would reinforce the status quo, with (according to one estimate)nine of every 10 dollars spent going to employers, insurancecompanies, and state governments, not to individuals.

President Bush's health care agenda would increase public andprivate coverage for millions of Americans. The outlined healthpolicy agenda introduces key changes in the conventional financingand delivery of health care. Chief among the proposals are healthcare tax credits for lower-income individuals and families and newmarket-based insurance reforms to enable Americans to purchaseprivate health coverage.